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Muscle and a Shovel
Muscle and a Shovel is a true story about a pair of young newly-weds who move to the city to chase the American dream. In the middle of their pursuit they are befriended by a man who turns their beliefs about God, their church, and their faith upside-down. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Community Churches - no one is spared when Truth is at stake - and their new friend Randall isn't concerned about political correctness or religious tolerance! This raw story grabs you and doesn't let go! Prepare to have your intellect, emotions, and existing beliefs set on fire!
419 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2011
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746 people want to read
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August 5, 2016WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
You are CONTENT with your DENOMINATION, and your CHURCH...I suggest you DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. This book is focused around the church of Christ, and it will try and convert you to their church.....It will make you question your faith, and your soul..... I did not give it a star at all, becuase I do not think that this book needs to be "rated".....Instead of reading this book, I suggest you pick up your BIBLE and read it instead!
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
You are CONTENT with your DENOMINATION, and your CHURCH...I suggest you DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. This book is focused around the church of Christ, and it will try and convert you to their church.....It will make you question your faith, and your soul..... I did not give it a star at all, becuase I do not think that this book needs to be "rated".....Instead of reading this book, I suggest you pick up your BIBLE and read it instead!
February 1, 2014
Excellent book! It will make you think about every aspect of your spiritual life. I will warn you though, it could challenge your entire belief system. If so, don't put the book down, instead try and prove it wrong through study of the scripture. You will find that very hard to do.
May 15, 2014
Michael Shank is either incredibly ignorant or totally deceptive. This book reminds me of Nazi propaganda; it's only missing pictures of the deformities and birth defects of the offspring of Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics, non-denoms, etc. Horrible. Shank preys on the ignorance of his readers , both historical and biblical ignorance. He simply continues to parrot everything that is constantly parroted by Church of Christ denomination members. I had to force myself past every page. Blatantly missing is Love. God is Love; and, therefore, (sadly) God is not to be found in this book.
There, I read it Grandma. Moving on.
There, I read it Grandma. Moving on.
January 30, 2014
This is the best book I have ever read. This is a true story. It is a book about a man's journey to become a Christian, the difference in teachings and which church is right for you. It can make you angry at times but keep reading and if there is something you do not agree with find the answer in the bible and prove you are right, then notify Mr. Shank. He welcomes it! I guarantee, if you read the entire book you will learn something whether a Christian or not. I know I did and I have been a Christian for more than forty years. This is a must read.
June 25, 2014
I first want to address the form of the book
Muscle and a Shovel
by Michael Shank that I purchased. It is an e-book (Kindle) and the 5th edition. I purchased it for $9.99. It was strewn with typographical errors and poor grammar, had no table of contents or means by which to jump to chapters (there are 40, plus the following sections: introduction, epilogue, end notes, bibliography, and Bible verses used in each chapter), no links to end notes from where noted within the chapters, and missing end notes! I repeat: this is the 5th edition since its initial publication in 2011. Five editions in three years, and it’s still in this condition. Without having yet mentioned anything about the actual content, this is enough to see little care has been taken in editing and likely speaks to the quality of the work itself. It does.
My reason for purchasing the book is simple: I was asked to read it in its entirety no matter how I felt along the way, to take notes, and to then offer my thoughts concerning its potential use in someone’s “outreach ministry.” I was asked to not read anything about the book (no abstracts, reviews, etc.) beforehand in order that I might approach it without any preconceived notions or bias, at as little as can be expected. So, that’s what I did (or didn’t, as the case may be). This is, however, a book review and not the place for me to express all my thoughts concerning the task I was given, though I will make a few notes to caution those who would consider reading it.
As a book, it appears to be a strange and disjointed, autobiographical narrative that preaches at the reader in an attempt to convince them to read the Bible in a way rather specific to a particular end of the spectrum within the Church of Christ denomination. (It is “about” Michael Shank’s conversion from the Baptist to Church of Christ denomination.) I found much of storytelling of daily life events to be mundane and distracting from the larger context of the book. Not only were they simply not written well, they often did not make much sense wherein they were placed. The text is unnecessarily long, and cutting much of this “storytelling” would make it much more tolerable.
However, there is still the issue of the way in which the reader is being preached to. There is constant repetition of the same Bible verses, and they are always typed out in their entirety every time. I understand in a book that is intended to “teach” the desire to print in full Scripture references, but not every time, least of all the same ones. This could be trimmed and save a lot of room, again making the book a bit more tolerable. Using the King James Version of the Bible for everything is also not very helpful. Of course, it is still used by many churches who consider it to be “the authorized version,” which simply shows a lack on understanding the history behind that phrase and the number of errors found within the text. (Someone reading the book along with me needed, on numerous occasions, to go to another translation simply to understand what was being said.) There is great history and tradition behind the KJV, but it is horribly outdated and ought not be used by most for Bible study today, especially if they are new to Scripture.
The author belittles people he’s trying to reach and uses examples and exaggerations that make it appear as if all people within a particular denomination are exactly the same as that which is poorly described. Do they exist? Yes, just as they do within the author’s own denomination. However, saying someone is an idiot or needs psychiatric help, for example, simply because they do not read a verse the same way (usually because they disagree on how it is to be read based on preconceived notions of biblical interpretation handed down to them, just as with those in the Church of Christ) is self-defeating, especially when trying to convert the very people being insulted. Though the book attempts to refute that assertion, the point is made therein: “We (the Church of Christ denomination) are the only ones who read the Bible correctly, we are the only ones who know the truth of Scripture, and everyone else is going to hell, even though we state the we do not make that judgment call because God is the final judge (but if you read and present the Bible like we do, it is the obvious conclusion).”
For these reasons, and so much more, I would not recommend Muscle and a Shovel to anyone as a “good read.” In fact, it’s quite poor.
Now, since I’ve likely offended many in my Church of Christ tradition by saying these things, especially by calling it a denomination, I feel I must mention a few things I normally would not include in a book review.
The author notes how a few denominations came to be and why they are wrong but fails to properly address his own history. The Church of Christ (yes, big “C”) is not the only church of Christ (little “c”) as many purport. It is a branch within the history of Christianity and stems from men just as every other denomination comes from those who have influenced a particular direction or way of reading Scripture. In my opinion, there are two major blinding factors to those within the Church of Christ not understanding themselves as a denomination: 1) they simply redefine the word “denomination” in such a way that they intentionally exclude themselves, and 2) they are woefully aware of their own history.
(Note: There are many who do not fall within the ignorance described here and remain within this particular tradition for numerous reasons, which I admire. In my own experience, I have been pushed away and described as an apostate and heretic for disagreeing with my tradition in its general narrowness of scriptural interpretation and exclusivity, and currently find myself living in an area that needs much more than the tiny [~20 people], local [20 minutes away by car] Church of Christ is teaching and offering—nothing—and have partnered with other Christian leaders in the area and lead a congregation in my home. I still don’t agree with denominationalism, which is why I do not fully associate myself with one (the Church of Christ), but I work with those therein and am still thankful for the good that has come from my Church of Christ heritage. In fact, when I’m visiting family and traveling, I still take my family to a Church of Christ.)
First, a denomination does not necessitate a central organization or governing body, but the Church of Christ has enough of a connection through hermeneutics, language, teachings, preachers, schools, and publications to be understood as having an unspoken (though loudly spoken) central governance that stipulates who is and isn’t “in” to fall within their own definition of “denomination.” They also have churches that fall within a wide spectrum, wherein not all believe the others are “in” (usually the more conservative, the more exclusive), just as is the case with many other denominations. Though they often claim that “church of Christ” is merely a descriptor and have concocted a theological doctrine by which it is a necessary descriptor, they certainly function as the “Church of Christ,” a denomination with a specific label.
(Note: The Church of Christ is not a cult, as some still purport, though it is generally so narrow in its approach to Scripture and other people that they alienate others who consider themselves to be [and are!] in the church of Christ, or any of the other names used for the people of God in Scripture that are more numerous than this single reference in Romans 16:16. Many are simply offended by the hijacking of this particular label by one denomination to the exclusion of all others from being associated therewith.)
Second, the Church of Christ came about as the result of Stone, the Campbells, and others desiring to get away from denominationalism and focus on unity in Christ and an emphasis on the written Word of God (the Bible). As with most denominations, the men by whom they were founded (or not!) did not intend them to be so, and they often spoke against it. However, just as with the Church of Christ, the further people were separated in time from these men the more they wanted to set up a particular system based upon their teachings (or twisted versions thereof).
The beginnings of the American Restoration Movement, of which the Church of Christ was a part, were by men who disagreed on much but agreed on Jesus, the Son of God, and a desire to get back to a New Testament example of living as the body of Christ. They disagreed on what the Church of Christ now considers to be salvation issues (names, labels, baptism, and the entity and function of the Holy Spirit, just to name a few), but they believed in unity in Christ and worked together to further the Kingdom of God, even in using different names and descriptors of the church but considering one another brothers and sisters (or sister congregations, as they are commonly known). This is the kind of unity for which many of us still strive, and it saddens me that many within the Church of Christ are not even aware of this part of their heritage and are actually opposed to it. However, this is what the author of Muscle and a Shovel speaks against. As a major debate in the history of the splitting of the Churches of Christ concluded on one end, it’s all right (good, of God) or it’s all wrong (evil, of Satan). This has been the trajectory for the Churches of Christ for some time, but many have begun to break away from this lie and are much more willing to listen to and journey with other believers in order that we may all become better disciples of Christ (another descriptor that turned into a denominational name “Disciples of Christ” within the American Restoration Movement and the other label used in its founding by Stone and Campbell).
Michael Shank uses the often expressed hermeneutic of “speaking where the Bible speaks, and staying silent where the Bible is silent” by way of looking at the New Testament through “commands, examples, and necessary inferences,” but fails, as many do, to show in the Bible (!) where these hermeneutics may be found about how to interpret itself! Why? This is what has been handed down through tradition but is understood to be “the way” (the most logical and right?) in which Scripture must be interpreted. This hermeneutic defies itself, but it is unquestioned. Therefore, though I may fully agree with some of what is expressed in his book, I cannot (must not!) agree with the way in which much of it concluded, especially when several issues addressed (the use of instruments, the plausibility of miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, et al.) are approached in ways I find to be out of context (a phrase often used in the book) and the side on which someone lands on these “issues” (issues to many within the Church of Christ) is used to condemn someone.
As an example of consistency, I present the often used passage of Ephesians 5:19 that is used to say using an instrument in worship to God is evil. Those within the Church of Christ who hold to these narrow hermeneutics and expressions thereof must, out of necessity and fear of condemnation, sing with their heart (not vocal chords!) because that’s what Paul says, and it must be done in unison (melody!) without harmony! The Eastern Orthodox tradition continues to sing in unison for many reasons, but the basic ancient tradition thereof and its means of maintaining unity are two big ones. If the Church of Christ is going to call upon history to express a split in the church over the use of instruments, it must also contend with an even earlier split by way of the introduction of a single voice of harmony. The four-part (or more) harmony the Church of Christ so adores and finds so beautiful (how is that any less emotional and entertaining than the way others describe the use of instruments?) is evidence of an expression of division in history that it claims as evidence for not causing division and being “right” with Scripture. It is utterly inconsistent, and that is an issue that must be addressed. I absolutely love a cappella singing (that’s still “music,” by the way, brother Michael), and it’s how we often sing in my church; however, I cannot make it an issue that it is not because the “issue” comes by way of faulty logic and hermeneutics (Muscle and a Shovel uses a lot of basic “logic” jargon).
There are a plethora of things I feel must be addressed within Muscle and a Shovel by anyone reading it or desiring to use it for outreach, but I hope what I have written here has demonstrated my reasons for dissuading others from reading and using it. There are plenty of other resources out there for the good found within Muscle and a Shovel that I would recommend rather than have someone read this unnecessarily lengthy and frustrating book that would require a lot of hand holding, explaining, and correcting along the way. I actually find the book to be dangerous to the spiritual growth of others in their relationship with other believers. In the language of the KJV, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). Though I do believe it was the author’s intent, I do not find this book to demonstrate love.
Thanks be to God for his grace and mercy as we continue to search out His truth and live unified in His Kingdom. Forgive us of our ignorance and infighting as we strive to love you and one another more. God bless us, every one.
My reason for purchasing the book is simple: I was asked to read it in its entirety no matter how I felt along the way, to take notes, and to then offer my thoughts concerning its potential use in someone’s “outreach ministry.” I was asked to not read anything about the book (no abstracts, reviews, etc.) beforehand in order that I might approach it without any preconceived notions or bias, at as little as can be expected. So, that’s what I did (or didn’t, as the case may be). This is, however, a book review and not the place for me to express all my thoughts concerning the task I was given, though I will make a few notes to caution those who would consider reading it.
As a book, it appears to be a strange and disjointed, autobiographical narrative that preaches at the reader in an attempt to convince them to read the Bible in a way rather specific to a particular end of the spectrum within the Church of Christ denomination. (It is “about” Michael Shank’s conversion from the Baptist to Church of Christ denomination.) I found much of storytelling of daily life events to be mundane and distracting from the larger context of the book. Not only were they simply not written well, they often did not make much sense wherein they were placed. The text is unnecessarily long, and cutting much of this “storytelling” would make it much more tolerable.
However, there is still the issue of the way in which the reader is being preached to. There is constant repetition of the same Bible verses, and they are always typed out in their entirety every time. I understand in a book that is intended to “teach” the desire to print in full Scripture references, but not every time, least of all the same ones. This could be trimmed and save a lot of room, again making the book a bit more tolerable. Using the King James Version of the Bible for everything is also not very helpful. Of course, it is still used by many churches who consider it to be “the authorized version,” which simply shows a lack on understanding the history behind that phrase and the number of errors found within the text. (Someone reading the book along with me needed, on numerous occasions, to go to another translation simply to understand what was being said.) There is great history and tradition behind the KJV, but it is horribly outdated and ought not be used by most for Bible study today, especially if they are new to Scripture.
The author belittles people he’s trying to reach and uses examples and exaggerations that make it appear as if all people within a particular denomination are exactly the same as that which is poorly described. Do they exist? Yes, just as they do within the author’s own denomination. However, saying someone is an idiot or needs psychiatric help, for example, simply because they do not read a verse the same way (usually because they disagree on how it is to be read based on preconceived notions of biblical interpretation handed down to them, just as with those in the Church of Christ) is self-defeating, especially when trying to convert the very people being insulted. Though the book attempts to refute that assertion, the point is made therein: “We (the Church of Christ denomination) are the only ones who read the Bible correctly, we are the only ones who know the truth of Scripture, and everyone else is going to hell, even though we state the we do not make that judgment call because God is the final judge (but if you read and present the Bible like we do, it is the obvious conclusion).”
For these reasons, and so much more, I would not recommend Muscle and a Shovel to anyone as a “good read.” In fact, it’s quite poor.
Now, since I’ve likely offended many in my Church of Christ tradition by saying these things, especially by calling it a denomination, I feel I must mention a few things I normally would not include in a book review.
The author notes how a few denominations came to be and why they are wrong but fails to properly address his own history. The Church of Christ (yes, big “C”) is not the only church of Christ (little “c”) as many purport. It is a branch within the history of Christianity and stems from men just as every other denomination comes from those who have influenced a particular direction or way of reading Scripture. In my opinion, there are two major blinding factors to those within the Church of Christ not understanding themselves as a denomination: 1) they simply redefine the word “denomination” in such a way that they intentionally exclude themselves, and 2) they are woefully aware of their own history.
(Note: There are many who do not fall within the ignorance described here and remain within this particular tradition for numerous reasons, which I admire. In my own experience, I have been pushed away and described as an apostate and heretic for disagreeing with my tradition in its general narrowness of scriptural interpretation and exclusivity, and currently find myself living in an area that needs much more than the tiny [~20 people], local [20 minutes away by car] Church of Christ is teaching and offering—nothing—and have partnered with other Christian leaders in the area and lead a congregation in my home. I still don’t agree with denominationalism, which is why I do not fully associate myself with one (the Church of Christ), but I work with those therein and am still thankful for the good that has come from my Church of Christ heritage. In fact, when I’m visiting family and traveling, I still take my family to a Church of Christ.)
First, a denomination does not necessitate a central organization or governing body, but the Church of Christ has enough of a connection through hermeneutics, language, teachings, preachers, schools, and publications to be understood as having an unspoken (though loudly spoken) central governance that stipulates who is and isn’t “in” to fall within their own definition of “denomination.” They also have churches that fall within a wide spectrum, wherein not all believe the others are “in” (usually the more conservative, the more exclusive), just as is the case with many other denominations. Though they often claim that “church of Christ” is merely a descriptor and have concocted a theological doctrine by which it is a necessary descriptor, they certainly function as the “Church of Christ,” a denomination with a specific label.
(Note: The Church of Christ is not a cult, as some still purport, though it is generally so narrow in its approach to Scripture and other people that they alienate others who consider themselves to be [and are!] in the church of Christ, or any of the other names used for the people of God in Scripture that are more numerous than this single reference in Romans 16:16. Many are simply offended by the hijacking of this particular label by one denomination to the exclusion of all others from being associated therewith.)
Second, the Church of Christ came about as the result of Stone, the Campbells, and others desiring to get away from denominationalism and focus on unity in Christ and an emphasis on the written Word of God (the Bible). As with most denominations, the men by whom they were founded (or not!) did not intend them to be so, and they often spoke against it. However, just as with the Church of Christ, the further people were separated in time from these men the more they wanted to set up a particular system based upon their teachings (or twisted versions thereof).
The beginnings of the American Restoration Movement, of which the Church of Christ was a part, were by men who disagreed on much but agreed on Jesus, the Son of God, and a desire to get back to a New Testament example of living as the body of Christ. They disagreed on what the Church of Christ now considers to be salvation issues (names, labels, baptism, and the entity and function of the Holy Spirit, just to name a few), but they believed in unity in Christ and worked together to further the Kingdom of God, even in using different names and descriptors of the church but considering one another brothers and sisters (or sister congregations, as they are commonly known). This is the kind of unity for which many of us still strive, and it saddens me that many within the Church of Christ are not even aware of this part of their heritage and are actually opposed to it. However, this is what the author of Muscle and a Shovel speaks against. As a major debate in the history of the splitting of the Churches of Christ concluded on one end, it’s all right (good, of God) or it’s all wrong (evil, of Satan). This has been the trajectory for the Churches of Christ for some time, but many have begun to break away from this lie and are much more willing to listen to and journey with other believers in order that we may all become better disciples of Christ (another descriptor that turned into a denominational name “Disciples of Christ” within the American Restoration Movement and the other label used in its founding by Stone and Campbell).
Michael Shank uses the often expressed hermeneutic of “speaking where the Bible speaks, and staying silent where the Bible is silent” by way of looking at the New Testament through “commands, examples, and necessary inferences,” but fails, as many do, to show in the Bible (!) where these hermeneutics may be found about how to interpret itself! Why? This is what has been handed down through tradition but is understood to be “the way” (the most logical and right?) in which Scripture must be interpreted. This hermeneutic defies itself, but it is unquestioned. Therefore, though I may fully agree with some of what is expressed in his book, I cannot (must not!) agree with the way in which much of it concluded, especially when several issues addressed (the use of instruments, the plausibility of miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, et al.) are approached in ways I find to be out of context (a phrase often used in the book) and the side on which someone lands on these “issues” (issues to many within the Church of Christ) is used to condemn someone.
As an example of consistency, I present the often used passage of Ephesians 5:19 that is used to say using an instrument in worship to God is evil. Those within the Church of Christ who hold to these narrow hermeneutics and expressions thereof must, out of necessity and fear of condemnation, sing with their heart (not vocal chords!) because that’s what Paul says, and it must be done in unison (melody!) without harmony! The Eastern Orthodox tradition continues to sing in unison for many reasons, but the basic ancient tradition thereof and its means of maintaining unity are two big ones. If the Church of Christ is going to call upon history to express a split in the church over the use of instruments, it must also contend with an even earlier split by way of the introduction of a single voice of harmony. The four-part (or more) harmony the Church of Christ so adores and finds so beautiful (how is that any less emotional and entertaining than the way others describe the use of instruments?) is evidence of an expression of division in history that it claims as evidence for not causing division and being “right” with Scripture. It is utterly inconsistent, and that is an issue that must be addressed. I absolutely love a cappella singing (that’s still “music,” by the way, brother Michael), and it’s how we often sing in my church; however, I cannot make it an issue that it is not because the “issue” comes by way of faulty logic and hermeneutics (Muscle and a Shovel uses a lot of basic “logic” jargon).
There are a plethora of things I feel must be addressed within Muscle and a Shovel by anyone reading it or desiring to use it for outreach, but I hope what I have written here has demonstrated my reasons for dissuading others from reading and using it. There are plenty of other resources out there for the good found within Muscle and a Shovel that I would recommend rather than have someone read this unnecessarily lengthy and frustrating book that would require a lot of hand holding, explaining, and correcting along the way. I actually find the book to be dangerous to the spiritual growth of others in their relationship with other believers. In the language of the KJV, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). Though I do believe it was the author’s intent, I do not find this book to demonstrate love.
Thanks be to God for his grace and mercy as we continue to search out His truth and live unified in His Kingdom. Forgive us of our ignorance and infighting as we strive to love you and one another more. God bless us, every one.
February 28, 2015
The positives: encourages you to study your Bible for yourself and not to trust someone else to do it for you. Michael Shank really loves his wife (her eyelashes must be something, he really likes them). He is a happy man, who loves his church.
Okay, now to the other stuff. This is a minor point, but it bugged me and is part of what makes my Goodreads review a 1. By the 6th edition of a book with a cover price of $16, it is well past time to get an editor to look at it. The typos and glaring errors are distracting. Self-published books sometimes have that problem, but 6 editions in, complete with revisions to take out "barnyard swears" (??) you could get it straight if you're eating tiramisu or orange sherbet for desert(sic). That stuff makes it really hard to take seriously.
If you're not familiar with KJV, pull another Bible alongside you in a more modern translation. Actually, pull a Bible alongside you anyway, because this is designed to scare you into the nearest (conservative) church of Christ, stat! (Note the little c, because they sure will.) For all of the encouragement to study your Bible for yourself, you'd best come to the same conclusions you're being led to, or else you're not doing an "honest reading of the Bible." Pull out your Bible anyway. Read at least the whole chapters of the verses he picks out. Many times they're out of context. You can be honest and disagree with it, despite his constant claims to the contrary.
This book is a church of Christ conversion story. Mr. Shank started out an ignorant Baptist who just went along with what felt good, and clearly hadn't cracked a Bible on his own. He trusted his preacher because someone in his family influenced him to become Baptist. He'd said the "sinner's prayer" and then a few years later got baptized, and his friend Randall wanted to teach him why that didn't work. The book shows how impressionable anyone can be who does not study for themselves, who reads the Bible one verse at a time, and who is scared to death of God's wrath.
Throughout the book, we get to read how "idiotic" or "ridiculous" or "stupid" all denominations are. Yes, it uses those words, followed up with a "I sure wasn't very Christian to say that" half-apology that never really rings true. So yeah, expect to get angry reading it. He's pretty nasty to those who don't agree with him. Over and over, Mr. Shank says, "any honest reader could only come to one conclusion" which is tantamount to calling anyone who disagrees with him a liar. Many of the characterizations of the beliefs of these denominations are caricatures and misrepresentations of beliefs that the author doesn't seem to understand, anyway. A lot of the book is arguing with straw men, so that's wasted paper.
I'm not going to go one at a time with all the issues I have with the theology and beliefs presented in this book, though there are many. The Command/Example/Necessary Inference+Silence of Scriptures (aka CENI-S) model of reading the Bible is inherently problematic, illogical, and unworkable. It is applied inconsistently, and creates confusion and division. It ignores a lot of the more important messages of freedom and love that are at the heart of a Jesus-follower's directives. It's legalistic, but worse than that, it misses so much of the point. Love and grace are silent characters in this book. There's lots of fear, but perfect love drives that out, doesn't it?
Okay, now to the other stuff. This is a minor point, but it bugged me and is part of what makes my Goodreads review a 1. By the 6th edition of a book with a cover price of $16, it is well past time to get an editor to look at it. The typos and glaring errors are distracting. Self-published books sometimes have that problem, but 6 editions in, complete with revisions to take out "barnyard swears" (??) you could get it straight if you're eating tiramisu or orange sherbet for desert(sic). That stuff makes it really hard to take seriously.
If you're not familiar with KJV, pull another Bible alongside you in a more modern translation. Actually, pull a Bible alongside you anyway, because this is designed to scare you into the nearest (conservative) church of Christ, stat! (Note the little c, because they sure will.) For all of the encouragement to study your Bible for yourself, you'd best come to the same conclusions you're being led to, or else you're not doing an "honest reading of the Bible." Pull out your Bible anyway. Read at least the whole chapters of the verses he picks out. Many times they're out of context. You can be honest and disagree with it, despite his constant claims to the contrary.
This book is a church of Christ conversion story. Mr. Shank started out an ignorant Baptist who just went along with what felt good, and clearly hadn't cracked a Bible on his own. He trusted his preacher because someone in his family influenced him to become Baptist. He'd said the "sinner's prayer" and then a few years later got baptized, and his friend Randall wanted to teach him why that didn't work. The book shows how impressionable anyone can be who does not study for themselves, who reads the Bible one verse at a time, and who is scared to death of God's wrath.
Throughout the book, we get to read how "idiotic" or "ridiculous" or "stupid" all denominations are. Yes, it uses those words, followed up with a "I sure wasn't very Christian to say that" half-apology that never really rings true. So yeah, expect to get angry reading it. He's pretty nasty to those who don't agree with him. Over and over, Mr. Shank says, "any honest reader could only come to one conclusion" which is tantamount to calling anyone who disagrees with him a liar. Many of the characterizations of the beliefs of these denominations are caricatures and misrepresentations of beliefs that the author doesn't seem to understand, anyway. A lot of the book is arguing with straw men, so that's wasted paper.
I'm not going to go one at a time with all the issues I have with the theology and beliefs presented in this book, though there are many. The Command/Example/Necessary Inference+Silence of Scriptures (aka CENI-S) model of reading the Bible is inherently problematic, illogical, and unworkable. It is applied inconsistently, and creates confusion and division. It ignores a lot of the more important messages of freedom and love that are at the heart of a Jesus-follower's directives. It's legalistic, but worse than that, it misses so much of the point. Love and grace are silent characters in this book. There's lots of fear, but perfect love drives that out, doesn't it?
January 21, 2022
I’ve grown up church of Christ my entire life. I’ve always hated the stereotype of church of Christ people being judgmental. After reading this book, I understand why people think that.
Aside from what I believe to be obvious inaccuracies, the book is also written is such a childish way. It’s so obvious that the author made no attempt to give an unbiased view of the scripture and the story it tells. Baptists = mean, bad people who only care about money 😡😡 Church of Christ members = kind, smart, biblically knowledgeable people 😌😌 It’s so clearly meant to manipulate the reader.
I read someone else’s review of this book where they said that the most important part of the gospel is no where to be found in this book - love. Michael Shank believes and tried to convince me to believe that if you’re not church of Christ, you’re going to hell. I don’t know how anyone can read the Bible and come to this conclusion.
There were some parts that I thought were good and supported by scripture. I thought it did a good job of defending the claim that baptism is required for salvation. But many of the other claims it made were very clearly a stretch.
In all, it is clear to me this book was written to be an echo chamber for Church of Christ extremists. (Coming from a church of Christ member).
Aside from what I believe to be obvious inaccuracies, the book is also written is such a childish way. It’s so obvious that the author made no attempt to give an unbiased view of the scripture and the story it tells. Baptists = mean, bad people who only care about money 😡😡 Church of Christ members = kind, smart, biblically knowledgeable people 😌😌 It’s so clearly meant to manipulate the reader.
I read someone else’s review of this book where they said that the most important part of the gospel is no where to be found in this book - love. Michael Shank believes and tried to convince me to believe that if you’re not church of Christ, you’re going to hell. I don’t know how anyone can read the Bible and come to this conclusion.
There were some parts that I thought were good and supported by scripture. I thought it did a good job of defending the claim that baptism is required for salvation. But many of the other claims it made were very clearly a stretch.
In all, it is clear to me this book was written to be an echo chamber for Church of Christ extremists. (Coming from a church of Christ member).
July 8, 2024
I probably would have liked this book quite a bit better if they had let me edit it before it was published. The constant need to add commas and adjust awkward phrases got old very quickly.
November 26, 2013
Have you always wondered why certain things you hear from the Sunday morning pulpit don't always match up when you read your Bible? This book is about several characters, all of whom are looking for change in their life. They don't all understand why or how at first, but eventually it all comes to light.
Randall is such a caring individual. He is always cheery and helpful no matter what his lot in life is. He is someone most people either naturally gravitate towards or completely ignore. I need more Randall's in my life!! He shares something most precious to others he works with and the outcome may surprise you.
Christianity takes a lot of muscle, and sometimes the shovel, but in the end, it will be well worth it!
I don't want to give much of this book away because it's one that, once you start it, you won't be able to put it down. I highly recommend this book for EVERYONE and I hope you take some time to read it!
Randall is such a caring individual. He is always cheery and helpful no matter what his lot in life is. He is someone most people either naturally gravitate towards or completely ignore. I need more Randall's in my life!! He shares something most precious to others he works with and the outcome may surprise you.
Christianity takes a lot of muscle, and sometimes the shovel, but in the end, it will be well worth it!
I don't want to give much of this book away because it's one that, once you start it, you won't be able to put it down. I highly recommend this book for EVERYONE and I hope you take some time to read it!
May 24, 2014
I've grown up in the church of Christ. Yet, even I was "cutting off the end of the ham." This book helped show me why we do some things that I've never thought twice about. And while there are a few things I don't agree with 100%, I can see why some people believe that now based on the scripture provided. I love that everything is backed up with scripture. I just wish it wasn't King James Version as I've always struggled to understand it. If you are curious as to why the church of Christ practices certain things, this book does a great job of showing why.
November 16, 2019
It was very blunt. This book helped me better understand the Church of Christ denomination and that's the only reason I gave it any stars. It also made me realize why I dislike many people who are Church of Christ because they are hypocritical and, let's face it, condemning and flat - out scary sometimes. I'm just happy he didn't bring up Joel Osteen or I would have thrown a fit.
July 5, 2022
This book left me hungry. All I could think was "Give me Jesus." There really isn't much hint of the gospel in the first three-quarters of the book. It includes many astonishingly bold, extra-biblical claims such as "If you're a member of a denomination… there's no question that you're headed toward eternal destruction." (p. 52) The author does not do justice to the doctrines of the denominations he argues against and largely argues against strawmen. He responds to these doctrines uncharitably and insufficiently, at times offering no argument to the contrary except comments like "Yeah, right" and "Do I really need to say more? It's ridiculous." (p. 166, 168) This book is largely the typical COC tract shelf put into a story format and in need of a hardy editor.
I thought about quitting many times but kept waiting, hoping for the redemption at the end. This is a conversion story, right? Maybe all of this is just the "before," and we will see this man truly converted from a prideful, self-sufficient heart through the preaching of Jesus.
I am still confused as to why Randall decided to spend their first three official Bible studies on the work and organization of the church, breaking down roughly as follows:
(1) Baptism adds you to the one true church, not denominations. (In this chapter, he says true things depending on how you mean them, but Randall and/or Michael seem to be equating the universal church, the local church, and Christ's body, using those terms completely interchangeably)
(2) The five acts of worship, Lord's Supper and giving on every first day of the week.
(3) Instrumental music, don't call a man reverend/pastor/father, qualifications of elders.
Give me Jesus!
Finally, 261 pages into this book, I reached the chapter entitled, "The Gospel." Yes! Here it is! I almost bumped my mental book review up to two stars in this chapter because he did preach the gospel as "Christ's death, burial and resurrection." Most of the Bible passages in this chapter were relevant, gospel-rich verses which refreshed my heart. However, it seemed to me (perhaps I was already soured on his approach due to the content so far) that even the preaching of the gospel was a means of proving his doctrine in contrast to other denominations. His description of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection was quickly brought around to the way that baptism reenacts the gospel (which is true) and how The Sinner's Prayer does not reenact the gospel. Then he dives right back into why the author's Baptist preacher is a false teacher and a brief overview of Alexander Campbell and the Restoration Movement -- in the chapter entitled "The Gospel." It is disappointing to me that no more than a few pages could be dedicated to the beauty and meaning of Christ's sacrifice in and of itself, before immediately coopting it for argument against "the denominations." The gospel as explicitly presented was not wrong, but when taken with statements in the rest of this book, it seems to me that the gospel in this chapter should be asterisked with "the gospel, plus being a member of a Church of Christ." That is a false gospel.
The chapter entitled "Digging Down", which follows the description of his decision to be baptized, summarizes his path to finding truth. In this chapter the key phrase, repeated multiple times in a short three pages, is "I dug deep." He describes in multiple paragraphs how he, by his own courage and individualism, against the grain of upbringing and culture, with "muscle and a shovel," dug into God's word and found the truth.
Give me Jesus!
Where is the conversion story? I understand that Michael Shank is a real person. I do not know the real man and these statements are not about the real man. But "Mike" is the main character in the book, and *as the main character portrayed in the narrative,* his attitude is seemingly unchanged. In the beginning chapters of this book, I saw a man stuck in a self-sufficient, self-exalting, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps attitude who thought he was saved no matter what he did. In the end I see the same man with a change in doctrine and a stricter moral code, but displaying the same heart; a man praising his own efforts to find the truth for himself, who is now not only "right" himself, but is "more right" than all those other guys, all thanks to his muscle and shovel.
Give me Jesus.
I thought about quitting many times but kept waiting, hoping for the redemption at the end. This is a conversion story, right? Maybe all of this is just the "before," and we will see this man truly converted from a prideful, self-sufficient heart through the preaching of Jesus.
I am still confused as to why Randall decided to spend their first three official Bible studies on the work and organization of the church, breaking down roughly as follows:
(1) Baptism adds you to the one true church, not denominations. (In this chapter, he says true things depending on how you mean them, but Randall and/or Michael seem to be equating the universal church, the local church, and Christ's body, using those terms completely interchangeably)
(2) The five acts of worship, Lord's Supper and giving on every first day of the week.
(3) Instrumental music, don't call a man reverend/pastor/father, qualifications of elders.
Give me Jesus!
Finally, 261 pages into this book, I reached the chapter entitled, "The Gospel." Yes! Here it is! I almost bumped my mental book review up to two stars in this chapter because he did preach the gospel as "Christ's death, burial and resurrection." Most of the Bible passages in this chapter were relevant, gospel-rich verses which refreshed my heart. However, it seemed to me (perhaps I was already soured on his approach due to the content so far) that even the preaching of the gospel was a means of proving his doctrine in contrast to other denominations. His description of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection was quickly brought around to the way that baptism reenacts the gospel (which is true) and how The Sinner's Prayer does not reenact the gospel. Then he dives right back into why the author's Baptist preacher is a false teacher and a brief overview of Alexander Campbell and the Restoration Movement -- in the chapter entitled "The Gospel." It is disappointing to me that no more than a few pages could be dedicated to the beauty and meaning of Christ's sacrifice in and of itself, before immediately coopting it for argument against "the denominations." The gospel as explicitly presented was not wrong, but when taken with statements in the rest of this book, it seems to me that the gospel in this chapter should be asterisked with "the gospel, plus being a member of a Church of Christ." That is a false gospel.
The chapter entitled "Digging Down", which follows the description of his decision to be baptized, summarizes his path to finding truth. In this chapter the key phrase, repeated multiple times in a short three pages, is "I dug deep." He describes in multiple paragraphs how he, by his own courage and individualism, against the grain of upbringing and culture, with "muscle and a shovel," dug into God's word and found the truth.
Give me Jesus!
Where is the conversion story? I understand that Michael Shank is a real person. I do not know the real man and these statements are not about the real man. But "Mike" is the main character in the book, and *as the main character portrayed in the narrative,* his attitude is seemingly unchanged. In the beginning chapters of this book, I saw a man stuck in a self-sufficient, self-exalting, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps attitude who thought he was saved no matter what he did. In the end I see the same man with a change in doctrine and a stricter moral code, but displaying the same heart; a man praising his own efforts to find the truth for himself, who is now not only "right" himself, but is "more right" than all those other guys, all thanks to his muscle and shovel.
Give me Jesus.
September 12, 2016
This book was gifted to me by the sweetest person in my life, ever. However, this book came off to me, as propaganda. As a former member of the Church Of Christ, and a lifetime of being told that church is the only church going to heaven, I just couldn't even get in to this book. Not at all. The first two chapters I thought it would be ok… but it wasn't. The intention behind the gift of this book was pure and one of love. The book however, is not anything I would ever choose to read on my own after growing up inside the CoC.
September 6, 2016
I agonized over two or three stars for this book. In the end, I gave it two stars. On one hand there is a lot of good in the book. It describes the gospel well and backs up claims with an enormous amount of scripture. I appreciate, the character of Randall and his evangelistic heart. He does a good job of presenting many portions of the gospel and how salvation can be obtained. In the other hand, the narrator of the story (which I assume actually is the writer as is claimed) seems to have a more condescending and arrogant attitude toward other denominations. I would have trouble recommending this to a friend in another belief pattern. Also I find the "end of the ham" story to be true of many in the church, not just denominations. The claim of the inability to have a personal relationship with Christ also bothered me. I don't agree at this point but admit that I need more study to see if I am wrong in my view of this. The assumptions of people's motives in the book were also unfounded in my opinion. Overall, it was interesting for me to read but I would not just hand it to someone I was trying to share the story of my Savior with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2014
I have never read any type of religious book like this. It takes an honest look at the Scriptures while telling a captivating story. The story and the truth behind it is one that left tears streaming down my cheeks as the book ended. It is one I whole-heartedly recommend to everyone. It will cause you to reexamine your beliefs and desire to be a better evangelist. It is a MUST READ & one I look forward to reading over and over again.
February 1, 2014
Really interesting personal story of how the author came to salvation. From a story-telling perspective, it's not a masterpiece, but I don't think the author has an inflated view of his prose. Actually, I enjoyed the way he made self-conscious references to 1980s pop culture as a way to set it in the time frame.
Great book for anyone who wants to know how the Bible says we are saved, and become part of God's Church.
Great book for anyone who wants to know how the Bible says we are saved, and become part of God's Church.
March 6, 2019
This book is so dangerous because it holds the truth that denominational churches don't want you to know.
If you want to know the truth about real Christianity, read this book!
If only everyone would read this, it would save so many souls.
If you want to know the truth about real Christianity, read this book!
If only everyone would read this, it would save so many souls.
September 2, 2015
Masterful examination of the process of becoming a Christian by the purity of God's Word rather than the corruption of man's ideas.
October 30, 2024
The best book I have read for the year! This book will get you closer to the Lord. It will open your eyes up about the different denominations. This book is a must read!!
September 7, 2024
This is quite genuinely the worst book I have ever read in my life. I read it eleven years ago and still to this day I find myself randomly remembering it and thinking to myself, wow, it was really messed up that this book was given to me when I was a child, by a member of my own family, knowing full well what the messages in this book are. I was raised Church of Christ but my mother is not Church of Christ, and that always caused serious friction with my paternal side of the family. I believe this book was given to me, an eleven year old CHILD, with the intention of scaring me into trying to convert my mother under the threat that I would not get to spend eternity with her when we both died. If you do not see how inappropriate of a burden that is to place on a child, then I don't know what to tell you. This book is just horrifically written fundamentalist propaganda meant to scare, bully, and intimidate rather than save and is full of the exact messaging that ended up driving me AWAY from the church- the exact opposite of its intentions. I don't know if anyone is even looking at reviews for this book, or if this book is still in print, or if people are still teaching it and recommending it to folks, but if this review can turn even one person away, then I will feel like I've done my part. If you are reading this right now, please know that you are loved by God just as you are.
September 16, 2014
A great story about what the Bible says about all of the Christian denominations created by men and about the meaning of the one true church purchased by the blood of Christ. This would be an excellent book for a small group study -- lots of scripture to look up and discuss.
There are two parts that I'm struggling with -- I accepted Christ via the "Sinners Prayer", which is slammed heavily in this book, but then I was baptized in obedience to what Jesus tells us to do in the Bible when I was in 10th grade in the Baptist church (also slammed, just like every other denomination). I'm struggling a bit with whether I should be baptized again with this new perspective. Also, the book slams the use of musical instruments during worship, claiming that this is not what the early church did. I wonder if part of this was simply due to the fact that musical instruments were prohibitively expensive and rare and that the Bible simply doesn't mention them in the Acts church due to the fact that few people had them. The book almost protested too much in this area, and seemed to be trying too hard to create a case for the early church NOT using them, therefore they should not be used.
If you think you are a Christian, you should read this book.
There are two parts that I'm struggling with -- I accepted Christ via the "Sinners Prayer", which is slammed heavily in this book, but then I was baptized in obedience to what Jesus tells us to do in the Bible when I was in 10th grade in the Baptist church (also slammed, just like every other denomination). I'm struggling a bit with whether I should be baptized again with this new perspective. Also, the book slams the use of musical instruments during worship, claiming that this is not what the early church did. I wonder if part of this was simply due to the fact that musical instruments were prohibitively expensive and rare and that the Bible simply doesn't mention them in the Acts church due to the fact that few people had them. The book almost protested too much in this area, and seemed to be trying too hard to create a case for the early church NOT using them, therefore they should not be used.
If you think you are a Christian, you should read this book.
July 1, 2021
When I originally read this, I was enamored, but after thinking about it the last few years, I realize this is, at best, only a place to start in terms of Biblical doctrine. This is really just a defense of the Church of Christ as a denomination *gasp* (don’t tell Michael Shank) and I think it ends up doing more harm than good. He makes the claim that only members of the modern Churches of Christ (rather than the biblical universal assembly of believers called the church of Christ) can be saved using pretty poor logic. Basically, the author claims that Jesus established his church, and his church does certain acts, so we know our church is the best one because we do those acts. But the thing is, those acts (like music in worship and the role of women) are much more subjective than he makes them out to be. In reality, Jesus expects his followers to trust his definition of good and evil rather than defining in on their own terms - and Shank, despite his attempts to prove that his way is Jesus’s way, is really just pushing his tradition above all others.
Again, I used to love this book, but I can no longer condone the training of modern pharisaical gatekeepers.
Again, I used to love this book, but I can no longer condone the training of modern pharisaical gatekeepers.
January 19, 2015
Thought the book was fantastic. Going through with Michael Shank's discovery that he like most people do not search the scriptures in depth to see what the Bible says is very much what I went through in my teenage years. Most take whatever is taught at their churches rather than finding out for themselves what the Word says. If a person really wants a true relationship with God and Christ, they have to search the scriptures. Find the church that teaches closely to what one believes the Word says. Philipians 2:12-13; Hebrews 5: 9-14. How can you obey the Word and work out your salvation unless you read it for yourself?
February 11, 2015
Absolutely a "must-read" for Christians and non-Christians alike
My son recommended I read this book two years ago. I didn't and I am upset with myself for that decision. This book has been and will continue to be such a blessing. The story makes the book flow so easily, you don't realize how very much you are learning. Anyone that has ever faced the question, "why do you believe what you believe", needs this book in their arsenal. A great companion to the Bible for anyone searching for true Christianity.
My son recommended I read this book two years ago. I didn't and I am upset with myself for that decision. This book has been and will continue to be such a blessing. The story makes the book flow so easily, you don't realize how very much you are learning. Anyone that has ever faced the question, "why do you believe what you believe", needs this book in their arsenal. A great companion to the Bible for anyone searching for true Christianity.
April 12, 2015
The only good thing I can say about this book is that it prompted me to read the Bible more. As a Christian I cannot support a religion that purports to be better or know more than others. God is the only one who knows and it is He who determines eternity, not the name on the sign at your church.
February 23, 2022
This book was absolutely beautiful. Mr. Shank’s story of conversion, alongside his wife was a real encouragement to me. Reading the backstory and what their past lives were like, compared to now, has lit a new fire inside of me to further spread the gospel!
August 27, 2024
The best way to read this book is with a Bible close at hand. Judge whether the conclusions Michael comes to in the Scripture measure up.
This book has challenged me to be a more thorough researcher of the Word. I want to know more and dive into the truth the Spirit has revealed.
This book has challenged me to be a more thorough researcher of the Word. I want to know more and dive into the truth the Spirit has revealed.
April 14, 2024
Great book - it breaks down the most common objections that people of the world have as obstacles to becoming a Christian.
August 20, 2014
This is a very thorough record of one man's discovery of the Truth of the Bible. Through the influence of a co-worker, Mike realizes the importance of studying the Bible for oneself rather than following what any man says or the traditions one has been taught.
"Why were people so careless with the Bible? Why didn't people study the Bible like their eternal souls depended on it?. . .Studying and understanding the Bible isn't for the lazy. Studying the Bible requires muscle and a shovel. Mental muscle and a willingness to use honest intelligence (the metaphorical shovel) to dig deep beyond all of our preconceived ideas, our false beliefs and our comfortable traditions" (188).
I have to admit there were times I cringed as I read. This author is a "no-holds-barred" kind of man. (He makes me think of my "tell-it-like-I-see-it" husband). I think there are many who might start this book but get mad and never finish it--maybe even throwing it across the room. If they can refute his points with the Word of God, however, I would like to see them persevere and write a rebuttal.
What I like about his account is his value and use of Scripture (more than 1,000 references) and his co-worker's faithfulness to recite Scripture and point Mike to the Word rather than the weak "I think" or "I believe" to defend his faith.
In the midst of religious confusion--in the midst of tolerance being substituted for unity in christendom at large--I found this book to be clear in teaching biblical truths consistently supported by Scripture.
"Why were people so careless with the Bible? Why didn't people study the Bible like their eternal souls depended on it?. . .Studying and understanding the Bible isn't for the lazy. Studying the Bible requires muscle and a shovel. Mental muscle and a willingness to use honest intelligence (the metaphorical shovel) to dig deep beyond all of our preconceived ideas, our false beliefs and our comfortable traditions" (188).
I have to admit there were times I cringed as I read. This author is a "no-holds-barred" kind of man. (He makes me think of my "tell-it-like-I-see-it" husband). I think there are many who might start this book but get mad and never finish it--maybe even throwing it across the room. If they can refute his points with the Word of God, however, I would like to see them persevere and write a rebuttal.
What I like about his account is his value and use of Scripture (more than 1,000 references) and his co-worker's faithfulness to recite Scripture and point Mike to the Word rather than the weak "I think" or "I believe" to defend his faith.
In the midst of religious confusion--in the midst of tolerance being substituted for unity in christendom at large--I found this book to be clear in teaching biblical truths consistently supported by Scripture.
April 8, 2019
It's an apologetic for the Church of Christ denomination. There is a character judgment of every person introduced in the book. Much of the narrative is filler and inconsequential to the central story (the author describes in detail what he ate for breakfast/lunch/dinner, who he was hanging out with and how they were connected to the social circles of the city, etc.), which makes the book about 200 pages longer than it needs to be. The author is inconsistent in his hermeneutic, often contradicting his own theological claims (for example, explaining that the Church of Christ doesn't allow instruments in church worship because the NT only specifies singing, and therefore doesn't authorize instruments because it doesn't say anything about them, then a short time later saying that concerning doctrine they only speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent). There is really no grace shown in the book, no living God, only a continual defense of Church of Christ doctrine, conflating the Churches of Christ denomination with the universal Church. The author shows no humility in his views and appears to have no real understanding of how to interpret Scripture.
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